[Kobe City] ``KOBE Tonbotama Museum'' tells the story of thoughts about the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake

• Table of Contents
• Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and KOBE Tonbotama Museum
• KOBE Tonbotama Museum Earthquake recovery efforts
• What is “1.17 Light of Hope”?
• Passing on memories to the next generation
• Great value one day ticket
• basic information

Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and KOBE Tonbotama Museum

January 17, 2023 marks 28 years since the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. When I was 1 year old at the time, I experienced a magnitude 4 earthquake in Tokushima City, and my parents said that despite the distance from the epicenter, the shaking was quite severe.

There are many people whose lives have been completely changed by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, and one of them is Yasutsugu Miyamoto, the director of the ``KOBE Tonbotama Museum,'' located in the former Japanese colony of Kobe.

--If it weren't for the earthquake, I wouldn't be where I am today. I never met a dragonfly ball. ---Mr. Miyamoto looks back on his life so far.

Tonbodama = A decorative glass bead with a hole. It is popular as an accessory.

KOBE Tonbotama Museum is a private art museum that exhibits approximately 2,000 glass works from ancient times to modern times, including dragonfly beads. In addition to the exhibition area, there is an experience workshop inside the museum, where you can experience making your own original dragonfly beads, which is popular with locals and tourists from Japan and abroad (people of all ages, men and women, especially women and children).

A scene from the dragonfly bead making experience

The name ``Tonbotama Museum'' may lead you to think that it is a museum specializing in dragonfly beads, but it is not only about dragonfly beads, but also spherical works called marbles, which encapsulate the artist's unique patterns. The museum has a wide range of exhibits, including glass works made in the 19th century, as well as elaborate glasswork creatures, and is a museum that has gained tremendous support as a holy place from glasswork fans all over the world.

Why did Mr. Miyamoto decide to open the museum? Mr. Miyamoto was working at a restaurant run by his parents, but on January 17, 1995, a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Chuo Ward, Kobe City, and the store was completely destroyed. However, undeterred by the damage caused by the earthquake, Mr. Miyamoto began operating a select shop selling arts and crafts on the site. This led to my fascination with dragonfly beads, which "express each artist's world or universe in a small piece of glass."

Furthermore, I started to want to communicate the appeal of glass crafts called lampwork, including dragonfly beads, in a multifaceted way such as ``viewing,'' ``learning,'' ``creating,'' and ``buying.'' 10 years have passed since the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. It opened in 2005 as a museum that conveys wishes for regeneration and creation through glass crafts.

KOBE Tonbotama Museum Earthquake recovery efforts

As a museum that was opened in response to the earthquake, the KOBE Tonbotama Museum has held the following exhibitions and initiatives to continue conveying our feelings about the earthquake. For example, we have a permanent display of glass works donated from Japan and abroad that convey the hope of recovery, and we invite artists to demonstrate the creation of glass works that convey messages of repose for the souls.

Additionally, for a limited time every January, visitors can try their hand at making dragonfly beads using the ``1.17 Lights of Hope'' lanterns at Higashi Yuenchi Park as fires used to melt glass. (100 yen for each item sold will be donated to the NPO "1.17 Light of Hope" for the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake)

One day, a person who lost her mother in the earthquake came to visit us. The person went home deeply moved, saying that by making the dragonfly beads made in ``1.17 Light of Hope'' into a necklace, she could always think of her mother by wearing it.

What is “1.17 Light of Hope”?

We would like you to know about the "1.17 Light of Hope" located at Higashi Yuenchi Park. Higashi Yuenchi is a park in the center of Kobe City that is used not only as a place for Kobe citizens to relax, but also as a venue for earthquake-related events such as "Kobe Luminarie" and "Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake 1.17 Gathering." .

On January 16, 2000, the ``Monument to Memorial and Recovery'' was established on the site, with the purpose of commemorating the victims of the earthquake, encouraging citizens, and communicating to the world the significance of recovery from the disaster. Ta. When constructing the "Monument for Memorial and Reconstruction," bereaved families and volunteers proposed that they would like to light a light as a symbol of "kindness," "compassion," and "proof of life."The "1.17 Light of Hope" was created. was born.

The light here is a combination of the pilot flames carried around the 10 disaster-affected cities and 10 towns, and the pilot flames sent from 47 prefectures. The ``1.17 Light of Hope'' is engraved with an inscription that continues to convey ``the lives of those who died in that earthquake and a message to those of us who survived.''

“1.17 Light of Hope” continues to shine at Higashi Yuenchi Park

Passing on memories to the next generation

The ``Monument for Memorial and Reconstruction'' and the ``1.17 Light of Hope'' are not only meant to commemorate the souls of those who lost their lives in the earthquake, but also to those of us who have been left behind to commemorate ``lives'' and ``important people.'' I think it has an important role to play in giving us suggestions about what we can and should do every day to protect what is irreplaceable.

However, as we live in a modern society where things change at a dizzying pace, it is difficult to be aware of this in our daily lives. That's why we need storytellers like Mr. Miyamoto who continue to tell us about tragedies without covering them up.

As the director of the Tonbotama Museum, which was created in the wake of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, Mr. Miyamoto aims to keep the thoughts of those involved in the earthquake alight in his heart.

Furthermore, we believe that it is necessary to constantly disseminate information to prevent the memories of the earthquake from fading, so we will be holding events throughout the year such as making dragonfly beads using the "1.17 Lights of Hope" lanterns and a lecture by Mr. Miyamoto about his experience with the earthquake. We are working on a plan to implement it. (As soon as conditions are met, we will start accepting reservations on Local Prime)

Just like war experiences, if there is no one to pass on the tragedies of the past, their feelings will fade and be forgotten. From the end of 2022, Mr. Miyamoto plans to pass on the museum he created and his past efforts to his second son, who is 24 years old. Passing on our thoughts to the next generation. For young people like them to carry the future of Kobe, which has overcome the earthquake.

Mr. Miyamoto gives us opportunities to think about the earthquake disaster not only on January 17th, but also on a daily basis through various forms such as tonbo-dama making experiences and exhibitions of his works.

Please come visit the KOBE Tonbotama Museum and experience the passion they put into their glasswork.

Mr. Miyamoto (image left) showing us around the underground ``meditation space'' of the Monument for Memorial and Restoration.

Click here to make a reservation for a trial that includes admission fee.

(Writer: Bayer Mizumoto)

Great value one day ticket

Kobe 1-day bus ticket

This is a bus ticket that allows you to ride as many times as you want on the City Loop and Port Loop that run through Kobe city for just 700 yen a day. If you want to visit sightseeing spots in Kobe, use this ticket for an easy and comfortable trip.

Click here for purchase and details of Kobe 1-day bus ticket

Hyogo Amazing Pass

This ticket is recommended for those who are considering touring around Himeji and Hyogo prefectures other than Kobe! Kobe 1-day bus ticket contents + A mobile ticket that allows you to ride unlimited Shinki Bus routes for 1,000 yen per day. *Limited to foreign visitors tourists visiting Japan

Click here for purchase and details of Hyogo Amazing Pass

basic information

KOBE Tonbotama Museum Address: 2nd floor, Nippon Building, 79 Kyomachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0034

Access: 8 minutes walk from Sannomiya (Kobe Sannomiya) Station or Motomachi Station on each line, 2 minutes walk from City Loop "Kyomachisuji" and "Kyusyuchi (City Museum)" bus stops Opening hours 10:00-19:00 (Last admission 18:00) up to 45)

Closed: Year-end and New Year holidays December 31st to January 2nd